Sound-box.



G. L. PUNNELL.

SOUND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1913.

1,104, 1 82, Patented July 21, 1914 anon V601 /vi hmemo I j 1/ @wm, I

GEORGE LANSING FUNNELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'lO AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF BRIDGE-PORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SOUND-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2t, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, Gnonen L. FUNNELL, of London, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sound-Boxes, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to sound boxes, and has for its object to produce a sound box, in which the diaphragm casing proper shall be yieldingly connected to its support, such as the hub or neck of the sound box, the union being effected through the medium of a resilient joint which leaves the diaphragm casing free to have a limited movement with relation to the hub or neck.

In reproducing from certain sound reccords of the zig-Zag type, and particularly those records of sounds having great amplitude of vibration, it is a recognized fact in the art that the strain upon the diaphragm is decreased, and the pleasing character, quality and definition of the reproduced sounds is much enhanced by providing a yielding connection between the sound box casing and its support, the yielding connection being preferably situated at the joint between the casing and the neck or hub of the sound box.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of yielding resilient joint between the sound box and its support, thereby obviating the production of a harsh metallic sound by the instrument and improving the reproduction as to volume, tone, quality and definition.

The objects of the invention are accomplished, in the present instance, by forming the diaphragm casing preferably of metal, with the diaphragm mounted therein in any suitable manner, and preferably the back of the casing is closed by a metal plate having a central opening therethro'ugn, and the hollow hub or neck is secured to this metal back by any suitable means, such as screws lo cated on a line passing diametrically through the hub. To effect this, the hub is provided with a flange and the screws are passed through the flange and nto the metal back of the diaphragm casing, and there is interposed between the hub and the back of the casing a narrow ring of any suitable resilient material, such. as rubber, the thickness of the ring being such as toprcvcnt the flange of the hub from contact ing with the back of the casing, the ring serving to form a yielding, resilient connection between the casing and the hub. As thus constructed, the diaphragm casing is free to rock on the resilient ring without imparting corresponding motion to the hub, vibrations imparted to the casing are not transmitted to the hub, and vice versa, and at the same time a complete closure is formed at the joint between the hub and the casing.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustratingthe invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be ex pressly understood that such drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not designed to define the limitsof the in-. vention, reference being had to the claims for this purpose.

In the drawings :Figure 1. is a centralsectional view illustrating one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals are applied to like parts, 1 is the diaphragm casing of any suitable or usual construction and preferably of metal; 2 is any suitable diaphragm mounted in the easing; and 3 is the back 'of the casing composed of any suitable material, preferably metal, said back having a central opening 4 formed therethrough. A hollow hub or neck 5, preferably of metal and having a flange 6, is secured to the back of the casing by any suitable means, such asthe two screws 7, 7. Interposed between the back 3 and the hollow hub or neck 5 is a ring 8 of resilient material, preferably soft rubber. This ring is quite narrow and is preferably seated in a countersink 9 formed in the back 3 surrounding the opening 4;, and the hub 5 rests upon the narrow ring 8, preferably projecting slightly thereinto, as indicated at 9'. The needle arm 10 is secured to the easing 1 and to the diaphragm 2 in the usual or any suitable manner, and,thedevices (such as the screws 7 7) for securing the flange 6 to the back 3 are located on a line passing diametrically through the hollow hub or neck 5, which diameter lies outside of a diametrical plane passing through the needle arm, and said screws 7, 7 are insulated from the flange 6 by any suitable means for preventing the transmission of vibrations, such, for example, as slightliy vulcanized rubber washers 11, 11. The ange 6 is preferably provided with countersinks,.-in

which are located soft rubber washers 12, 12, through which the screws 7 pass. The narrow rubber ring 8 seated in the countersink 9 projects sufiiciently beyond the outer.surface of the back 3 to prevent the flange 6 from contacting with said back, when the screws 7 are driven home to, connect the casing, and the soft rubber washers 12, 12,-

also yield readily, so that the entire connection between the hub and the casing is extremely sensitive and permits the 'casing to yield or have movement relatively to the hub, thereby avoiding any undue strain on the diaphragm through the action of records of great amplitude, and giving a reproduction of pleasing volume, and tone quality.

- While I have described my lmproved sound. box' with considerable particularity, in, order that the invention may be readily understood in what I believe to be its best form, the invention is not limited to the specific construction, proportions, or materials thus described, since these may be casing having a central opening, a support extending inwardly from the walls of said opening, a ring of resilient material resting -on said support and extending beyond the outen surface of said back, a hollow hub projecting into said ring, and means securing said hub to said back on a line passing diametrically through the hub.

'2. In a sound box, a diaphragm and dia-' phragm casing',.a back to said casing-having a central opening, a narrow resilient r1ng projecting into said opening and forming a lining for the wall thereof, a hollow hub having a portion thereof extending into and snugly fitting said ring, a flange on said hub bearing on said ring, and screws extending through said flange for securing said hub to the back of said casing.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE LANSING FUNNELL.

' Witnesses:

H.'D. JAMEsoN, O. J. Wonrfi. 

